Kevin John Dunn
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend Kevin John Dunn (9 July 1950 – 1 March 2008) was the 12th Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
.
, Staffordshire
on 9 July 1950 and educated at St Mary's Primary School and St Patrick's Secondary School, both in Newcastle-under-Lyme. He studied with the Salvatorian Fathers at Christleton Hall in Chester
, and studied A Levels at Cotton College
in North Staffordshire.
He studied for the priesthood at Oscott College, Birmingham
, and was ordained at Our Lady and St Werbergh's Church in Clayton
, Newcastle-under-Lyme on 17 January 1976.
, and was chaplain to Stuart Bathurst High School. Living in Aston
, Birmingham he was chaplain to the Caribbean community in the Archdiocese of Birmingham
from 1980 to 1987.
For two years he was Parish Priest at Our Lady of the Angels and St Peter in Chains, Stoke-on-Trent
and served as Chaplain to the Royal Infirmary and Chaplain to Staffordshire University
.
He underwent further studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome
and was awarded a Doctorate
in Canon Law
in 1991.
Upon his return to England in 1991, he worked as a Parish Priest in St Austin's, Stafford
and also lectured
in Canon Law at Oscott College. During this time he became the Episcopal Vicar for Religious in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
In 2001 he was also appointed full time Episcopal Vicar for the areas of Wolverhampton
, Walsall
, the Black Country
and Worcestershire
.
In 2002 he became a Canon
of the Metropolitan Chapter of St Chad and a member of the Episcopal Council in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
by His Holiness Pope John Paul II
was made on 20 March 2004; he was ordained as bishop on 25 May 2004 at St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne
.
, Newcastle at the beginning of February 2008, and died on Saturday 1 March 2008 aged 57. He was suffering from pneumonia, and was surrounded by his family when he died peacefully. Canon Seamus Cunningham
, who succeeded him as Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, administered the Prayers for the Dying
, and Prayers for the Dead alongside Bishop Dunn's family.
Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province.-History:...
.
Early life
Kevin Dunn was born in Newcastle-under-LymeNewcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle-under-Lyme is a market town in Staffordshire, England, and is the principal town of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme. It is part of The Potteries Urban Area and North Staffordshire. In the 2001 census the town had a population of 73,944...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
on 9 July 1950 and educated at St Mary's Primary School and St Patrick's Secondary School, both in Newcastle-under-Lyme. He studied with the Salvatorian Fathers at Christleton Hall in Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, and studied A Levels at Cotton College
Cotton College
Cotton College was a Roman Catholic boarding school AT in Cotton near Oakamoor, North Staffordshire, England, also known as Saint Wilfrid's College. It closed in 1987 and the site is now derelict....
in North Staffordshire.
He studied for the priesthood at Oscott College, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and was ordained at Our Lady and St Werbergh's Church in Clayton
Clayton, Staffordshire
Clayton is a suburb and a ward in the south of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.-Today:Clayton lies on the boundary between urban and rural Staffordshire, not far from the Shropshire border...
, Newcastle-under-Lyme on 17 January 1976.
Priest
After ordination Fr Dunn served in St Patrick’s, WalsallWalsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
, and was chaplain to Stuart Bathurst High School. Living in Aston
Aston
Aston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.-History:...
, Birmingham he was chaplain to the Caribbean community in the Archdiocese of Birmingham
Archdiocese of Birmingham
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham is one of the principal Latin-rite Catholic administrative divisions of England and Wales in the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church....
from 1980 to 1987.
For two years he was Parish Priest at Our Lady of the Angels and St Peter in Chains, Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
and served as Chaplain to the Royal Infirmary and Chaplain to Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University is a university with its main campus based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and with other campuses in Stafford, Lichfield and Shrewsbury.- History :...
.
He underwent further studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and was awarded a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
in 1991.
Upon his return to England in 1991, he worked as a Parish Priest in St Austin's, Stafford
Stafford
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...
and also lectured
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
in Canon Law at Oscott College. During this time he became the Episcopal Vicar for Religious in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
In 2001 he was also appointed full time Episcopal Vicar for the areas of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
, the Black Country
Black Country
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
and Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
.
In 2002 he became a Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of the Metropolitan Chapter of St Chad and a member of the Episcopal Council in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
Bishop
The announcement of his appointment as Bishop of Hexham and NewcastleBishop of Hexham and Newcastle
The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in the Province of Liverpool, known also on occasion as the Northern Province.-History:...
by His Holiness Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
was made on 20 March 2004; he was ordained as bishop on 25 May 2004 at St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne
St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne
The Cathedral Church of St Mary is a Catholic cathedral in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the mother church of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle and seat of the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle. The Cathedral, situated on Clayton Street, was designed by Augustus Welby Pugin and built between 1842...
.
Death
Bishop Dunn was admitted to the Freeman HospitalFreeman Hospital
The Freeman Hospital is an 800-bed tertiary referral centre in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.The hospital is managed by the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is a teaching hospital for the University of Newcastle upon Tyne...
, Newcastle at the beginning of February 2008, and died on Saturday 1 March 2008 aged 57. He was suffering from pneumonia, and was surrounded by his family when he died peacefully. Canon Seamus Cunningham
Séamus Cunningham
Séamus Cunningham is an Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle in the north of England.-Biography:...
, who succeeded him as Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, administered the Prayers for the Dying
Last Rites
The Last Rites are the very last prayers and ministrations given to many Christians before death. The last rites go by various names and include different practices in different Christian traditions...
, and Prayers for the Dead alongside Bishop Dunn's family.